About LaiLin Yoga

“Yoga begins right where I am—not where I was yesterday or where I long to be.”
— Lisa Sparrowe

Have you ever felt out of place in a yoga class? Felt awkward or uncoordinated? Inflexible? Had trouble keeping up?

Hi! I’m Debbie, an accessible yoga teacher, and the owner of LaiLin Yoga.

I believe yoga is for everybody and every body, and I am passionate about helping people practise yoga in ways that feel right for them. I am particularly interested in mindfulness techniques, yoga for mental health, and adaptive and accessible yoga.

I teach a gentle, eclectic style that draws on the many disciplines that have influenced me, including meditation, tai chi, and various styles of yoga. In class, I offer my students variants of postures and movements, and encourage the use of yoga equipment or everyday household items, so they can discover what best suits them.

My yoga journey began when I started meditating to manage the anxiety and stress of a high-pressured, corporate job. I was drawn to the physical side as a way to both relieve the mental stress and counteract the long hours I was spending in front of a computer. When my teacher suggested that I teach, I felt that I couldn’t because I wasn’t flexible enough, strong enough or thin enough!

Through my training, I have learnt that there is so much more to yoga than asana, that is, the physical postures and movements. Yoga aims to calm the mind and asana is only one step to achieving that. My hope is that by making the practices accessible, I can help many others enjoy the benefits of yoga and embark on their own yoga journeys.

 
 

Qualifications and professional development

  • Diploma of Satyananda Yoga Training | Satyananda Yoga Academy, Australia

  • Restorative Yoga Certification | Mitch Gibson, YogaBowl

  • Accessible Yoga Certification | Jivana Heyman, Accessible Yoga Training Academy

  • Teaching Chair Yoga™: The Sitting Mountain Series | Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga

  • Teaching Yoga for Elders | Satyananda Yoga Academy, Australia

  • How to Make Restorative & Yin Yoga Welcoming to All Bodies | Natalia Tabilo, Yoga For All Bodies

  • How to (Really) Teach Beginners | Natalia Tabilo, Yoga For All Bodies

What’s in a name?

Lai-lin (麗蓮) means ‘pretty lotus’ and is my Cantonese middle name. I am a fourth-generation Australian-born Chinese.

In Eastern philosophies, the lotus is a metaphor for personal growth—it has its roots in muddy water but breaks through the water's surface to bloom into a beautiful flower. LaiLin Yoga reflects my heritage and personal journey to find balance and peace within myself.

Unfortunately, I don’t speak or understand Chinese (except for some of my favourite yum cha dishes!).